Voting-machine.



Patented Oct. 28,1902.

VOTING IA'CHINE.

(Application Feb. 14, 1902.)

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Patented Oct. 28, I902. S. LOE.

VOTING MACHINE.

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VOTING IACI'IINE.

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No. 32,079. Patented Oct. 28, I902;

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SYVER LOE, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

VOTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,079, dated October28, 1902.

Application filed February 14, 1902. Serial No. 94.008. (No model.)

To to whom it may concern.-

Be itknown thatI, SYVER LOE, a citizen of the United States, residing atMinneapolis, in the county of IIennepin and State of Minnesota, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Voting-Machines; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to voting-machines, and has for its objectto improve the same in the several particulars hereinafter noted.

The invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of deviceshereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

Certain of the features illustrated in the preseutcase are disclosed andbroadly claimed in my prior patents, Nos. 688,533 and 688,534, both ofdate DeceniberlO, 1901, and both entitled Voting-machine.

A machine embodying the several features of my invention is illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate likeparts throughout the several views.

My present invention is especially directed to the provision of animproved limiting-lock or vote-limiting mechanism; but it involves othernovel features and combinations of parts, all of which will behereinafter pointed out, and defined in the claims.

Figure 1 is a plan view with some parts broken away, showing avoting-machine embodying the several features of my invention andshowing the parts in their normal positions. Fig. 2 is a viewcorresponding to Fig. 1, but showing the parts moved into their setpositions. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the inachine,.some parts beingbroken away and others being shown in section. Fig. 1 is a detailview,principally in side elevation, looking at the machinefrom theleftand showing the limiting-lock or vote-limiting mechanism, some partsbeing broken awayand others being shown in section. Fig. 5 is a detailof one of the elements of the vote-limiting mechanism. Fig. 6 is adetail in section illustrating principally the independentvotecontrolling device, and Fig. 7 is a detail in section substantiallyon the linear; a of Fig.2.

The numeral 1 indicates a rectangular skeleton frame or support,suitably supported at its base or lower end by feet or other devices.(Not shown.)

The numeral 2 indicates a vertically-disposed fulcrum-shaft, suitablysecured at its ends to the skeleton heads of the frame 1.Register-actuating levers or keys 3 are pivoted on this fulcrum-shaft 2in horizontal p o sitions one over the other. Projecting finger-pieces 4of said levers work outward through suitable passages in the front ofthe frame 1. Said levers are further provided with toothed segments 5andwith projections 6, having lugs or shoulders 7 and 8, all for purposeswhich will presently appear. Each lever 3 carries a sliding latch 9,secured thereto by slot-and-pin connections 10 and provided at itsprojecting end with a reverselybeveled or approximately V-shapedcam-nose 11. The cam noses or ends 11 of the latches 9 all work with acamming action against a vertically-disposed cam-rod 12, rigidly securedat its ends to the heads of the frame I. Said latches 9 are yieldinglyforced against the rod 12 by springs 13, shown as connected to the rearends thereof and the fulcrum-rod 2. With this construction it is evidentthat by the cooperation of the cam-noses 11 of the latches 9 with thecam-rod 12 under the action of the springs 13 the actuating-levers 3will be yieldingly held in either of the two positions indicated inFigs. 1 and 2 in which they may be set.

In my present machine, as well as in my said prior machine, theactuating levers or keys are arrangedin groups and appropriated one toeach candidate for a particular office to which the group isappropriated. For each actuator there is a register, and for each groupof actuators and registers there is a limiting-lock or vote-limitingmechanism, one element of which is subject to each actuator and whichgroup serves to limit the number of votes which may be cast for theparticular office to which the group is appropriated.

The numeral 14 indicates as an entirety one of the registers orrecording-tallies,which registers are, as shown, suitably secured in avertical stack located at the forward lefthand corner of the frame 1, asshown in the drawings. As shown, each register involves threentnneral-wheels, the unit member of which is provided with ratchet-teeth15. The carrying devices for the register-wheels are not shown, but maybe of any suitable or well-known construction.

To each lever or key 3 is pivotally connected a register-actuating pawl16, the projecting toothed end 17 of which is adapted to engage theteeth of the cooperating register. At their intermediate portions thepawls 16 are provided with longitudinal slots 18, through which extendthe eccentric portions 19 of a vertically-disposed rock-shaft 20, theends of which are journaled in brackets 21, secured on the main frame 1.To the lower end of the rock-shaft 20 is secured an arm 22, to whichconnects a link 23.

In the vicinity of the beveled ends 11 of the lever-latches 9 is avertically-disposed restoring-blade 24, provided with trunnions 25,suitably journaled in bearings 26 on the frame 1. To the lower trunnionof this restoring-blade 24 three arms 27, 28, and 29 are secured, and tothe upper trunnion of said blade is secured an upper arm 29, which is amate to the said lower arm 29. The arm 27 is connected to the link 23,while the long arm 28 is pivoted to a plunger or slide 30, provided atits projecting end with a handpiece 3l. Said arm 28 is also pivotallyconnected to another plunger or slide 32, which works outward through aslot 33 in one of the rear bars of the frame 1 and is provided with ahandpiece 34. The said plunger 32 is also provided at one side with anabrupt locking-shoulder 35 and with a beveled shoulder 36. A spring 37presses laterally on the plunger 32 and causes one or the other of thesaid shoulders 35 and 36 to normally maintain engagement with the saidslot 33.

We will now consider the most important feature of my inventionto wit,the limitinglock or vote-limiting mechanism.

38 indicates a vertically-disposed non-rotary shaft supported at itsupper and lower ends by the heads of the frame 1. This shaft 38 isprovided with a key 39, which runs from end to end thereof. Mounted toslide in said shaft 28, but held against rotation thereon by said key39, is a series of screw-threaded hubs 40, on each of which is mountedwith screw-theaded engagement a spur-pinion 41.- Mounted on the shaft 38between the sliding hubs 40 are sliding washers 42.. Each pinion 41meshes with one of the toothed segments 5 of the actuating-levers 3, andit will be noted that said pinions have very wide faces as compared withthe said segments, so as to permit the gears to move laterally to a veryconsiderable extent while in mesh with the cooperating segments. Thepinions 41 act as nuts. The sliding hubs and gears are separated intogroups by detachable and adjustable stop-brackets 43, shown as securedto a vertical base 44 of the frame 1 by screws 45. The bar 44 is shownas provided with screwholes 46, so spaced that the said brackets 43 maybe applied between any two pinions and to any washer 42. Thestop-brackets 43 are provided with projecting prongs 47, the

ends of which are notched and are adapted to be interlocked withperforations 48 in a vertical guide-plate 49, which plate 49 is suitablysecured to the frame 1. Said plate 49 is also provided with slots 50,through which the segmental ends of the actuating levers or keys 3freely work and by which they are held against lateral movements. Thecrotches afforded by the prongs 47 are grooved, so as to embrace andtightly hold the washers 42, to which the brackets 43 are applied. Tomore rigidly connect the stopbrackets 43 against lateral springingmovements, I provide a long screw-threaded rod 51, which is suitablyanchored at its ends and is provided with nuts 52 to clamp the saidbrackets 43. The brackets 43 are provided with open notches to receivethe rod 51 and to permit the same to be readily detached therefrom bysidewise movement.

It will be noted that the screw-threaded hubs 40 and the pinions 41 areof the same Width, and we will assume that under the action of anactuating-lever a pinion is given sufficient rotation to move itlaterally onesixteenth of an inch. For one illustration we will assumethat four candidates are represented for one oflice, to which but onemay be elected. The group at the top in Fig. 4 is set to provide forthis condition, and it is evident that when any one of the actuators ofthat group is movedfrom its normal position indicated in Fig. 1 into itsposition indicated in Fig. 2 its gear will be moved laterally on thecooperating hub far enough to press the upper and lower pinions of thatgroup into engagement with the stop-washers 42, which are rigidly heldby the cooperating stop-brackets 43. When this expanding movement hastaken place, it is evident that no other pinion of that group can bemoved, since the limit of expansion or separation of the wheels 41 andhubs 40 ofthe group is then reached,and hence that all the otheractuators of the group will then be locked in normal positions. Theintermediate group (illustrated in Fig. 4) comprises eight pinions, andthe stop-brackets 43,which embrace the group, are so spaced as to permitthe group to expand or separate approximatelyone-eighth of an inch, or,in other words, to expand or separate enough to permit the rotation oftwo pinions 41 under the action of the actuating-levers. This group isproperly set for an office to which two candidates may be elected andfor which there .are eight candidates represented, counting theindependentv candidate one. As is evident, any two actuators of thisparticular group may be operated either in succession or at the sametime and that when two of the actuators have been set the other membersof the group will be locked in their normal positions, since such twomovements expand pr separate the pinions of that group to their imit.

Normally the segmental ends of the actuating-levers are placed against astop-strip 53, which is adj ustably secured on the guideplate 49 byslot-and-screw engagements 54. When the stop-strip 53 is loosened up andthrown forward to its limit, the segments 5 are all carried out of meshwith their cooperating pinions 41. This is important, as when thepinions are thus disengaged they may be properly adjusted and assembledinto groups.

The straight-vote-controlling device herein used is shown and broadlyclaimed in my said prior patent, No. 688,534, and hence may here bebriefly described. It is best illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 7, but alsoin Fig. The three upper register-actuators and cooperating registers areshown as appropriated, respectively, to straight Republican, straightDemocratic, and straight Prohibition tickets. The straight-votestop-blade, made up of the sections 55 and 56, is hinged on averticalrod 57 and connected for reverse rocking movements by a short lever 58,pivoted at 59. The blade-sections 55 extend for cooperation with theshoulders 7 of the three actuatinglevers which are appropriated tostraight votes, while the blade-section 56 extends for cooperation withthe shoulders 70f all of the individual-vote-actuating levers. Normallythe blades 55 and 56 stand as indicated by full lines in Fig. 1. Vhen,however, one of the actuating-levers appropriated to straight votes, forinstance, is moved, the blade-section 56 will be thrown in frontof theshoulders 7 of all of the actuating-levers appropriated to individualvotes. Of course when one of the individual-vote actuators is moved areverse movement of the blades 55 56 will take place and all of thestraight-vote actuators will be locked. When one of the saidbladesections is moved rearward, the other will be moved forward, asindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

I have also shown means whereby the socalled independent votesthatis,votes for parties not: represented on the ticket-may be cast and thecasting of such vote made to count as one vote against the voter. Thisdevice, briefly described, is as follows:

The numeral 60 indicates a long lever the free end of which normallycloses a slot 61, (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1,) which slot maybe assumed to open into a suitable receptacle. (Not shown.) Said lever60 extends below the frame 1 and is secured to the depending plunger orshaft of an oscillating blade 62, which blade is mounted on a pair oflevers 63, one at the top and the other at the bottom of the frame 1. Atone end said levers 63 are pivoted to brackets 64 in the frame 1, and attheir free ends they are connected by links 65 to the arms 29 of therockshaft 25. The blade 62 is yieldingly held by a spring 66 against afixed stop 67. On the blades 62 are secured a plurality of detachableand adjustable stop-blocks 68, which cooperate with the shoulders S ofthe actuatinglevers 3. These blocks 68 are secured for cooperation onlywith those actuating-levers which are appropriated to independent votes.As indicated in the drawings, the first block 68 from the top is appliedfor cooperation with the actuating-lever which is the seventh fromthetop. These blocks 68 may, of course, be readjusted and applied, so asto bring them always in line with the independent-vote-actuating levers.

The operation of the machine, briefly summarized,is substantially asfollows: The parts normally stand as indicated in Fig. l. The voter inmanipulating the register-actuating levers moves the same from theirnormal positions into their set positions, (indicated in Fig. 2,) andthe numberof register-actuating levers of a particular group which maybe set will be limited, as already described, by the so-calledlimiting-lock or vote-limiting mechanism involving the slidingscrewthreaded hubs 40 and pinions 41. It may be here noted that thepoints of the beveled ends or noses 11 of the latches 9 are set rearwardor to one side of its center, so that it requires more than one-half ofthe possible movement of an actuating-lever to throw the same past thecam-rod 12. Hence it follows that if in a group where but one vote maybecast for the office represented two actuators should be movedsimultaneously, they could be given but half movements and upon beingreleased would be thrown back to their normal positions by thespring-pressed latches 9. Even if one of the actuating-levers could beset in any position short of the extreme position indicated in Fig. 2,it would not upon being returned with the other and properly-setactuators cause a vote to be registered, inasmuch as the tooth 17 of itspawl 16 would not have been thrown far enough to properly engage theratchet 15 of the cooperating register. \Vhen the particular actuatorwhich is appropriated to the independent vote is moved, its lug Sengages the cooperating block 68, rocks the blades 62 and long arms 60,and thereby opens the slot 61 and permits a ticket or check havingmarked thereon the name of a candidate to be deposited through the slot6 and into the receptacle which is to receive the same. When the saidactuating-lever reaches its set position, the said block 68, blades 62,and long arms 60 are permitted to fly back into their normal positionsunder the actions of the springs 66. terhas set all of the actuatorswhich he is entitled to use and which it is possible for him to use, hetakes hold of the handpiece 31 of the plunger 30 and by drawing thereoncauses the following actions to take place, to wit: First, therestoring-blade 24is moved from its normal. position into engagementwith the forward inclines of the beveled ends or noses 11 of the latches9 of the set of actuators. This same initial movement of said plunger 30moves the eccentric 19 far enough to carry the toothed ends 17 of thepawls 16 laterally After the vo-" inward or rearward in proper line forengagement with the ratchet-teeth 15 of the cooperating registers. Thenby continued move: ment of said plunger 30 the said restoringblade 24,Working with a cam action on the beveled ends or noses 11,positivelyforces said actuating-lever back into the normal positions indicated inFig. 1. This final movement of the actuating-levers causes the pawl 16to operate their respective registers. The initial movement of therestoring-bar 24, acting through the arms 29, links 65, and levers 63,carries the block 68 rearward out of the path of the lugs 8 of theactuating-levers 3, and thus permits those actuating levers which areappropriated to independent votes to be freely returned with the otherlevers under the continued movement of the said restoring-blade. Whenone of the actuatinglevers appropriated to independent votes is movedinto its set position, as previously described, it is temporarily lockedagainst return movementthat is, is locked against return movement untilreleased, as just indicated above. When the plunger 30 is drawn inwardto its extreme limit, the restoring-blade 24 stands as indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 1 and locks all of the actuating-levers in theirnormal positions. Furthermore, at this time the lock-lugs 35 on theplunger 32 engages the shoulder of the slot 33 and locks the saidrestoring-blade in its said locking position. Hence the voter after hehas cast his votes cannot reset the machine and the next voter cannotcast his vote until after the parts have been restored to their normalpositions by an attendant or other person, who may so reset the machineby pulling on the plunger 32.

This voting-machine will usually be used in connection with a booth, inwhich case of course the plunger 30 will project into the booth, and theplunger 32 will project outside of the booth, where it cannot be reachedby the Voter from within the booth. It will also be understood that amachine such as described may be arranged in duplicate, triplicate, orquadruplicate, so as to provide for the voting of any one or more of thenational, State, county, or municipal tickets.

The so-called spring-latches 9 not only serve to yieldingly hold theactuating-levers either in normal or set positions, but further serve aspropelling devices to induce complete movements of said levers.

From what has been above said it will be understood thatthe so-calledlimiting-lock or vote-limiting mechanism is capable of manymodifications. For instance, the elements corresponding to the so-calledsliding hub and pinions might be moved laterally by a cam action otherthan that caused by screw-threaded engagement, and the connectionsbetween the actuating-levers and the pinions or nut members might bemade by other devices than gear-teeth. However,

the wide-faced pinions, the screw-threaded hubs, and the relatively thinor narrow segments give a construction which has important advantagesoveranyother constructions for the same purpose. The so-called actuatinglevers or keys may also take various forms. If desired, rollers might beapplied to the so-called cam-rod 12 to reduce the friction between thesame and the cam-noses 11 of the spring-latches 9. Other modificationsas to details of construction may also be made within the scope of myinvention as herein set forth and claimed.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates,is as follows:

1. The combination with a group of registers and register-actuators, ofvote-limiting mechanism comprising a series of laterally-expansiblerotary elements, rotated one by each ac tuator and arranged to expand orspread laterally when rotated, and adjustable stops adapted to beinterposed between any of the said elements, for limiting the expandingmovements thereof and thereby limiting the number of votes which may beregistered, and also rendering variable the number of elements comprisedin the group, substantially as described.

2. The combination with agroup of registers and register-actuators, of avote-limiting mechanism comprising a group of shiftable non-rotary hubslocated side by side, nut members screw-threaded on said hubs andadapted to spread or separate when rotated, said actuators operating oneupon each of said nut members, and stops limiting the spreadingmovements of the said not members, to thereby limit the number of voteswhich may be registered, substantially as described.

3. The combination with agroup of registers and register-actuators, of avote-limiting mechanism comprising a group of shiftable non-rotary hubslocated side by side, pinions screw-threaded on said hubs and adapted tospread or separate when rotated, said actuators having teeth foroperation on said pinions, and stops limiting the spreading movements ofsaid pinions and hubs, to thereby limit the number of votes which may beregistered, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a group of registers and register-actuators, ofa vote-limiting mechanism comprising a group of shiftable non-rotaryhubs located side by side, nuts screw-threaded on said hubs and rotated,one by each of said actuators, washers interposed between said nuts andadapted to slide therewith, other washers embracing said group ofpinions, and adjustable stops for engaging and holding said outerwashers against shifting movements, to thereby limit the spreadingmovements of the pinions of the said group, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a group of registers and register-actuators, ofa vote-limiting mechanism comprising a non-rotary shaft, a series ofscrew-threaded hubs slidable on said shaft but held against rotationthereon, nuts screw-threaded on said hubs and arranged to be rotated oneby each of said actuators, and adjustable stops for limiting thespreading movements of said hubs and nuts and thereby limiting thenumber of votes which may be registered, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a group of registers, of a corresponding groupof pivoted register-actuating levers having toothed segments andregister-actuating pawls, and a vote-limiting mechanism comprising anonrotary shaft, a series of non-rotary hubs slidable on said shaft,pinions screw-threaded on said hubs and meshing one with the segment ofeach of said actuating-levers, and stops limiting the spreadingmovements of said pinions and hubs and thereby limiting the number ofvotes which maybe registered, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a group of registers and register-actuators, ofa vote-limiting mechanism comprising a non-rotary shaft, a group ofnon-rotary hubs slidable on said shaft, nuts screw-threaded on said huband operated one by each of said actuators, washers interposed betweensaid nuts, and the adjustable stop-brackets pronged and grooved toembrace the outer members of said washers, to thereby hold the sameagainst lateral movements and to thereby limit the spread ing movementsof the nuts of the group, substantially as described.

8. The combination withagroupofregisters of a corresponding group ofpivoted registeractuating levers having toothed segments andregister-actuating pawls, and a vote-limiting mechanism comprising a nonrotary shaft, a series of non-rotary hubs slidable on said shaft, aseries of pinions screw-threaded one on each hub and meshing one withthe segment of each actuating-lever, washers interposed between saidpinions, and pronged stop-brackets grooved to engage the outer membersof said washers, to thereby anchor the same and limit the spreadin;movements of the said pinions, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a group of registers and register-actuatinglevers or keys, of devices applied to said levers for insuring andcompleting full movements thereof, which devices act on said leversthroughout their movements from one extreme position to the other,substantially as described.

10. The combination with a group of registers, of a corresponding groupof pivoted register-actuating levers, spring-pressed latches mounted onsaid levers and provided with V- shaped cam-noses, and a cam-rod withwhich the noses of said latches engage throughout the movements of saidlevers, to yieldingly hold said lovers in extreme positions and toinsure complete movements thereof, substantially as described.

11. The combination with several groups of registers and pivotedregister-actuating levers, of limiting lock mechanisms controlling theseveral groups of actuators, one group of said actuators beingappropriated to straight votes and the others to individual votes, and alock-blade formed in two sections and so arranged that when one of thestraight-vote actuators is moved, the individual-vote actuators arelocked, and vice versa, substantially as described.

12. The combination witha group of registers, of a corresponding groupof pivoted register-actuating levers adapted to be moved individually toand from operative positions without action on said registers, and anoscillating restoring-blade for rocking said levers on their pivots, tothereby render the same operative on their respective registers and torestore said levers to their normal positions, substantially asdescribed.

13. The combination with a group of registers and cooperating pivotedregister-actuating levers, said levers carrying projecting inclinedcam-surfaces, of a restoring blade or bar for action on saidcam-surfaces, to restore said actuating-levers to their normalpositions, substantially as described.

14-. The combination with a group of registers and register-actuatinglevers, of registerengaging pawls pivoted to said levers, alever-restoring blade or bar for moving said levers back to normalpositions, and connections whereby the initial movement of saidrestoring-bar moves said pawls into operative positions, substantiallyas described.

15. The combination with a group of registers and register-actuatinglevers, of registerengaging pawls pivoted to said levers, an cecentricdevice for moving said pawls into and out of operative positions, and alever-restoring blade or bar having connections to said eccentricdevice, whereby, under the movement of said restoring-blade, said pawlsare first thrown into operative positions and are subsequently caused toactuate their respective registers under the return movements of saidlevers efiected by said restoring-blade, substantially as described.

16. The combination with a group of registers, of the correspondinggroup of pivoted register-actuating levers having toothed segments, atvote-limiting mechanism involving pinions meshing with said segments andmovable laterally when rotated, stops limiting the spreading movement ofsaid pinions, and a stop device for said levers normally holding thesegments thereof in mesh with said pinions, but moving to permit thethrowing of said segments out of mesh with said pinions, to permit thesaid pinions to be readjusted, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I fl'lllX my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

SYVER LOE.

Witnesses:

ELIZABETH KELIHER, F. D. MERCHANT.

